#folklife — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #folklife, aggregated by home.social.
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An excellent day of dance yesterday, so of course I failed to take any photos… just the right weather (hot but not too hot, slight cooling breeze not windy, not wet), sides quite different in styles, appreciative audiences, and very pleasant music session in the pub afterwards.
#FolkLife RedCuthbertMorris #MorrisDancing #BedfordFringeFestival #BedfordUK
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An excellent day of dance yesterday, so of course I failed to take any photos… just the right weather (hot but not too hot, slight cooling breeze not windy, not wet), sides quite different in styles, appreciative audiences, and very pleasant music session in the pub afterwards.
#FolkLife RedCuthbertMorris #MorrisDancing #BedfordFringeFestival #BedfordUK
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I just realised that the Day of Lincolnshire Folk is a week earlier than I thought, so I might be able to go… I can’t find much info as to what’s on this year though - FaceAche has a little but no proper running order (though it seems from their website that Rattlejag won’t be dancing there this year). Will have to have a think about whether to trail up… should anyone have any gen I’d be interested to hear from you.
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I just realised that the Day of Lincolnshire Folk is a week earlier than I thought, so I might be able to go… I can’t find much info as to what’s on this year though - FaceAche has a little but no proper running order (though it seems from their website that Rattlejag won’t be dancing there this year). Will have to have a think about whether to trail up… should anyone have any gen I’d be interested to hear from you.
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Realised last night that based on who is coming/broken I’ll be needing to dance not just play at today’s day of dance. Why does this happen so often? We have loads of proper dancers, I want to be primarily a musician so tend not to dance at practice, then when there’s a big dance out I end up dancing though I’m not at all properly prepared… oh well, we usually get away with it!
(Don’t mention the town twinning thing where I forgot the sticking to Deformed Rabbit!)
(Yes, it is because people have lives and can’t all come to every dance out and then the people who can come get damaged (though at least that’s not while dancing, usually, just bad luck at home).)Anyway, I’m hoping that can borrow some rags from someone as of late I’ve been sharing a tatter jacket with a newish member until we get around to making more up, otherwise I’ll stick out like a sore thumb even without making any major errors! 😂
[edited for typo]
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Realised last night that based on who it coming/broken I’ll be needing to dance not just play at today’s day of dance. Why does this happen so often? We have loads of proper dancers, I want to be primarily a musician so tend not to dance at practice, then when there’s a big dance out I end up dancing though I’m not at all properly prepared… oh well, we usually get away with it!
(Don’t mention the town twinning thing where I forgot the sticking to Deformed Rabbit!)
(Yes, it is because people have lives and can’t all come to every dance out and then the people who can come get damaged (though at least that’s not while dancing, usually, just bad luck at home).)Anyway, I’m hoping that can borrow some rags from someone as of late I’ve been sharing a tatter jacket with a newish member until we get around to making more up, otherwise I’ll stick out like a sore thumb even without making any major errors! 😂
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RE: https://c.im/@OccasionalDucks/116345465998829573
Same goes for tomorrow’s Red Cuthbert Day of Dance at Bedford Fringe Festival, should any mastodonians happen to be there, though it’ll be a different mallard on a different melodeon… come and say “hi” if you like.
#FolkLife #MeldeonMountedMallard #Melodeon #MorrisDancing #BedfordUK #BedfordFringeFestival #RedCuthbertMorris
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RE: https://c.im/@OccasionalDucks/116345465998829573
Same goes for tomorrow’s Red Cuthbert Day of Dance at Bedford Fringe Festival, should any mastodonians happen to be there, though it’ll be a different mallard on a different melodeon… come and say “hi” if you like.
#FolkLife #MeldeonMountedMallard #Melodeon #MorrisDancing #BedfordUK #BedfordFringeFestival #RedCuthbertMorris
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Just a day to go before Red Cuthbert Day of Dance, part of the Bedford Fringe Festival - five morris sides will be starting at the Faces on Silver Street at 1030, with various spots throughout the town until we finish at Riverside Square, 1530-1600. We’ll all be doing turns in the Quarry Theatre Garden between 1200 and 1330, and after the last dance spot there will be a music session in The Hidden Barrel.
If you’re local, do come and see us & our fellow dancers!
Red Cuthbert will be joined by Golden Hare, Letchworth Morris, Queen’s Oak and Wicket Brood.
#BedfordFringeFestival #BedfordUK #RedCuthbertMorris #FolkLife #MorrisDancing #BorderMorris
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Just a day to go before Red Cuthbert Day of Dance, part of the Bedford Fringe Festival - five morris sides will be starting at the Faces on Silver Street at 1030, with various spots throughout the town until we finish at Riverside Square, 1530-1600. We’ll all be doing turns in the Quarry Theatre Garden between 1200 and 1330, and after the last dance spot there will be a music session in The Hidden Barrel.
If you’re local, do come and see us & our fellow dancers!
Red Cuthbert will be joined by Golden Hare, Letchworth Morris, Queen’s Oak and Wicket Brood.
#BedfordFringeFestival #BedfordUK #RedCuthbertMorris #FolkLife #MorrisDancing #BorderMorris
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My one video from yesterday, of Hemlock Morris dancing Hell’s Bells -
Not videoed: Red Cuthbert Morris, Bedford Morris Men
#BedfordRiverFestival #MorrisDancing #BedfordIsntShit #BedfordUK #FolkLife
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My one video from yesterday, of Hemlock Morris dancing Hell’s Bells -
Not videoed: Red Cuthbert Morris, Bedford Morris Men
#BedfordRiverFestival #MorrisDancing #BedfordIsntShit #BedfordUK #FolkLife
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A good time dancing yesterday, including busking our way through Bluebells for a massed dance - none of us having done it outside an Ale in about eight years - and my finally almost getting Bonny Green (no one actually really knows it, do they?), good crowd reactions, and a nice social afternoon afterwards.
The one video I took on the day, of Hemlock Morris dancing Hell’s Bells, to follow…#FolkLife #MorrisDancing #RedCuthbertMorris #BedfordUK #BedfordRiverFestival #BedfordIsntShit
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A good time dancing yesterday, including busking our way through Bluebells for a massed dance - none of us having done it outside an Ale in about eight years - and my finally almost getting Bonny Green (no one actually really knows it, do they?), good crowd reactions, and a nice social afternoon afterwards.
The one video I took on the day, of Hemlock Morris dancing Hell’s Bells, to follow…#FolkLife #MorrisDancing #RedCuthbertMorris #BedfordUK #BedfordRiverFestival #BedfordIsntShit
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If you’re going to the Bedford River Festival today, keep an eye out for morris dancing along the embankment, from 1130 until we can no longer hold the space against the crowds. All three of the town’s sides will be there - Red Cuthbert Morris, Hemlock Morris and the Bedford Morris Men.
#BedfordRiverFestival #BedfordUK #MorrisDancing #FolkLife #BedfordIsntShit
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If you’re going to the Bedford River Festival today, keep an eye out for morris dancing along the embankment, from 1130 until we can no longer hold the space against the crowds. All three of the town’s sides will be there - Red Cuthbert Morris, Hemlock Morris and the Bedford Morris Men.
#BedfordRiverFestival #BedfordUK #MorrisDancing #FolkLife #BedfordIsntShit
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Yesterday’s Toddington Tour was a good one - having fewer pubs to get around made it that bit less of a mad dash…
Anyway, here’s an authentic morris/folk experience - the legendary Barry Goodman performing the traditional end-of-the-tour song in the usual way: -
Yesterday’s Toddington Tour was a good one - having fewer pubs to get around made it that bit less of a mad dash…
Anyway, here’s an authentic morris/folk experience - the legendary Barry Goodman performing the traditional end-of-the-tour song in the usual way: -
View through the pub window: Barry Goodman himself playing “Four Up” - the best of many renditions during the Toddington Tour as it is perennially popular… I’m glad we didn’t do the dance we do to it!
Here’s what it sounds like https://youtu.be/HPQuUA1K0TUAnyway, a good dance out with a bunch of other sides
#Morris #MorrisDance #MorrisDancing #FolkDancing #FolkMusic #Folk #FolkLife
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View through the pub window: Barry Goodman himself playing “Four Up” - the best of many renditions during the Toddington Tour as it is perennially popular… I’m glad we didn’t do the dance we do to it!
Here’s what it sounds like https://youtu.be/HPQuUA1K0TUAnyway, a good dance out with a bunch of other sides
#Morris #MorrisDance #MorrisDancing #FolkDancing #FolkMusic #Folk #FolkLife
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We’re heading off to dance out in 20 minutes . We might be insane. I’m taking a rucksack full of chilled water rather than my usual couple of beers, mind.
#RedCuthbertMorris #MorrisDance #MorrisDancing #FolkLife #BedfordUK
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We’re heading off to dance out in 20 minutes . We might be insane. I’m taking a rucksack full of chilled water rather than my usual couple of beers, mind.
#RedCuthbertMorris #MorrisDance #MorrisDancing #FolkLife #BedfordUK
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Just found out that Julian Sutton (JS hereinafter) will be the third tutor at this year’s Halsway D/G weekend, so a little anecdote…
About ten years ago I went to Melodeons at Witney and JS was one of the tutors. The workshop of his I went to was “all abilities” and I was very much a beginner. It was way, way beyond me and I came away massively frustrated and annoyed that it was not as pitched. Trying to learn “The Great North Run” and “93 Not Out” at great pace, suitable for beginners?! I walked out knowing I’d learnt nothing and wasted that time when I could’ve gained useful knowledge/ technique in a different workshop.
Fast forward to last year at Halsway when playing in the bar one evening, someone started a tune and I joined in without particular difficulty although I didn’t know it, and also the one they segued into. “What were they?” I asked, “I don’t know them but seemed to be able to play them.” The reply, of course, was “The Great North Run into 93 Not Out.”
I’m not saying I guarantee I could repeat the capability to just join in and play them, but clearly something had stuck and I’d done JS a great disservice!#Melodeon #DiatonicAccordion #Accordion #FolkLife #Folk #FolkMusic #Music #TradMusic #Trad
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Just found out that Julian Sutton (JS hereinafter) will be the third tutor at this year’s Halsway D/G weekend, so a little anecdote…
About ten years ago I went to Melodeons at Witney and JS was one of the tutors. The workshop of his I went to was “all abilities” and I was very much a beginner. It was way, way beyond me and I came away massively frustrated and annoyed that it was not as pitched. Trying to learn “The Great North Run” and “93 Not Out” at great pace, suitable for beginners?! I walked out knowing I’d learnt nothing and wasted that time when I could’ve gained useful knowledge/ technique in a different workshop.
Fast forward to last year at Halsway when playing in the bar one evening, someone started a tune and I joined in without particular difficulty although I didn’t know it, and also the one they segued into. “What were they?” I asked, “I don’t know them but seemed to be able to play them.” The reply, of course, was “The Great North Run into 93 Not Out.”
I’m not saying I guarantee I could repeat the capability to just join in and play them, but clearly something had stuck and I’d done JS a great disservice!#Melodeon #DiatonicAccordion #Accordion #FolkLife #Folk #FolkMusic #Music #TradMusic #Trad
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Looking at “Barbie Girl” (BG hereinafter) as the foreman of our morris side wants to write a new dance and it’ll need a tune… and this would fit on our instruments nicely and get the public’s attention.
By my reckoning BG has four parts. Three of those parts are eight bars each, in line with “standard form”… but the first one is 18 bars (well, 9 bars with different first/second time through endings) and includes the necessary run up for the start of the second part to feel right.
Because the run up to the B music can’t be jemmied into the end of the C or D music, we can’t just use the A music as an intro then loop the other parts (my first thought).
Do any of you internet folkies have any bright ideas to tweak BG so the A music is a multiple of 8 bars (and don’t say play it for 9x8 =72 bars, that’s much to much of it!)?
Sheet music here, (though we’d play it in G) https://sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/sheetjpg/56840.jpgAlternatively, any suggestions for upbeat, attention grabbing, well know pop similar to BG that fits nicely into an octave and a half, is in 8 or 16 bar chunks, and isn’t beset with accidents or key changes?
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Looking at “Barbie Girl” (BG hereinafter) as the foreman of our morris side wants to write a new dance and it’ll need a tune… and this would fit on our instruments nicely and get the public’s attention.
By my reckoning BG has four parts. Three of those parts are eight bars each, in line with “standard form”… but the first one is 18 bars (well, 9 bars with different first/second time through endings) and includes the necessary run up for the start of the second part to feel right.
Because the run up to the B music can’t be jemmied into the end of the C or D music, we can’t just use the A music as an intro then loop the other parts (my first thought).
Do any of you internet folkies have any bright ideas to tweak BG so the A music is a multiple of 8 bars (and don’t say play it for 9x8 =72 bars, that’s much to much of it!)?
Sheet music here, (though we’d play it in G) https://sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/sheetjpg/56840.jpgAlternatively, any suggestions for upbeat, attention grabbing, well know pop similar to BG that fits nicely into an octave and a half, is in 8 or 16 bar chunks, and isn’t beset with accidents or key changes?
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The house is gone now.
But some stories don’t disappear with the walls.
Some things don’t need a house to stay behind.The full tale is now up on The Moonlit Road Podcast. 🌙
https://buff.ly/xpc4m1R#SouthernGothic #GhostStories #NewOrleans #Folklore #Folklife
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In other news, I’m off to Cambridge for a day’s morris dancing with Red Cuthbert today - we’ll be at the Cambridge Blue at 2pm, the Free Press at 3 and the Mill at 4.
https://redcuthbert.uk/event/cambridge-tour
(And yes if you follow the link the poster should say “is” not “are” but I’m not the one who does that stuff any more so don’t blame me!)
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In other news, I’m off to Cambridge for a day’s morris dancing with Red Cuthbert today - we’ll be at the Cambridge Blue at 2pm, the Free Press at 3 and the Mill at 4.
https://redcuthbert.uk/event/cambridge-tour
(And yes if you follow the link the poster should say “is” not “are” but I’m not the one who does that stuff any more so don’t blame me!)
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Today’s exciting delivery
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Today’s exciting delivery
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Good night at the Insomaniacs Ball - we didn’t stick it out to the bitter end as I’d hoped we would, but left some time around 1am, as not only were our dancers tiring (and busking nearly everything as there’s very little Cotswold we actually know!) but the numbers were thinning (probably 2/3 of the proper Cotswold dancers left before us) as a hard core settled into grind out the more obscure dances until dawn, and most of the musicians had left too so we were being asked to play things we didn’t know and then having to scratch around for someone who did. At that point discretion seemed the better part of valour.
Definitely a fun experience, and good for my “playing along quietly with things I don’t really know” skills.
While we only stayed a couple of hours later than most ales, it felt a bit different and if your a morris dancer wishing striking distance of Long Clawson and haven’t been you should certainly consider giving it a go.
Mild disappointment that the excellent cheese board didn’t include Long Clawson cheese though. :-P
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Good night at the Insomaniacs Ball - we didn’t stick it out to the bitter end as I’d hoped we would, but left some time around 1am, as not only were our dancers tiring (and busking nearly everything as there’s very little Cotswold we actually know!) but the numbers were thinning (probably 2/3 of the proper Cotswold dancers left before us) as a hard core settled into grind out the more obscure dances until dawn, and most of the musicians had left too so we were being asked to play things we didn’t know and then having to scratch around for someone who did. At that point discretion seemed the better part of valour.
Definitely a fun experience, and good for my “playing along quietly with things I don’t really know” skills.
While we only stayed a couple of hours later than most ales, it felt a bit different and if your a morris dancer wishing striking distance of Long Clawson and haven’t been you should certainly consider giving it a go.
Mild disappointment that the excellent cheese board didn’t include Long Clawson cheese though. :-P
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About half an hour until we leave for the Insomaniacs Ball - because what better than an all-night session of Cotswold morris when you, um, barely dance/play any Cotswold? Fingers crossed it is going to be #Epic!
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Last night’s music session accidentally lasted until the pub closed. Not that is was “amazing” or “exciting” - we just kept chatting and playing in a low-key, relaxed way and then the landlady was gently asking people to let her go to bed… not a bad night. Solid contentment for the win.
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A cute moment from Seattle's Folklife festival many years ago.
📷 Olympus C2500L / May 2004
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A cute moment from Seattle's Folklife festival many years ago.
📷 Olympus C2500L / May 2004
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I’m going to wish you all a happy new year now, before practicing some tunes and then going to a friend’s to bring it in with some midnight morris dancing - hope the rest of 2025 is good to you and that 2026 will be better. Stay awesome people!
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I’m going to wish you all a happy new year now, before practicing some tunes and then going to a friend’s to bring it in with some midnight morris dancing - hope the rest of 2025 is good to you an that 2026 will be better. Stay awesome people!
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RE: https://c.im/@OccasionalDucks/115531084863979551
Called it.
I’ve just had an email from EFDSS saying they’re going to retain their legal name unchanged but start using Folk England as a “trading name”. For once my prediction was correct: wonders may never cease.#EFDSS #EnglishFolkDanceAndSongSociety #FolkEngland #FolkLife #FolkDance #FolkMusic
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RE: https://c.im/@OccasionalDucks/115531084863979551
Called it.
I’ve just had and email from EFDSS saying they’re going to retain their legal name unchanged but start using Folk England as a “trading name”. For once my prediction was correct: wonders may never cease.#EFDSS #EnglishFolkDanceAndSongSociety #FolkEngland #FolkLife #FolkDance #FolkMusic
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Today’s exciting delivery!
For anyone interested it is Milleret-Pignol layout in “D/G” - so D/Ehm/Accs… the “G/C” equivalent works well for me, so it made sense. Yes, it is… unusual…
#FolkLife #AccordéonDiatonique #Diato #DiatonicAccordion #Accordion #Melodeon #FolkMusic #TradMusic
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Today’s exciting delivery!
For anyone interested it is Milleret-Pignol layout in “D/G” - so D/Ehm/Accs… the “G/C” equivalent works well for me, so it made sense. Yes, it is… unusual…
#FolkLife #AccordéonDiatonique #Diato #DiatonicAccordion #Accordion #Melodeon #FolkMusic #TradMusic
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Just heard that the EFDSS vote came out at 69% in favour of the proposed name change, just short of the 75% required to change their legal name from the English Folk Dance and Song Society to Folk England. The board is now “considering its options”.
So, any bets on their adopting “Folk England” as a trading name then? Like how “Cycling UK” doesn’t actually exist and is a trading name for the Cyclists’ Touring Club.
#EFDSS #EnglishFolkDanceAndSongSociety #FolkEngland #FolkLife #FolkDance #FolkMusic
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Last week we marked Halloween by going to the pub and doing big-space morris dances in a not-big space, e.g. - https://youtu.be/ogNkgaFLa-Y
I’m lucky to be able to take part in such silliness and fun.
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Today’s morris admin chore done - dance list for next Saturday’s Ale written out… God help anyone who wants to change it now!
Always handy having a sword about the house for when you need a long straight edge, but my scribing is not what it once was.
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Unusual dance out yesterday, but we got participation prizes so I now have a medal for morris dancing.
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Decent day of dance yesterday for the Fed AGM, though we were not on our best form. Dancing a Dilwyn with Ramshackle, one of whose founders first danced with us when she was 16-18, felt like a minor highlight.
It was also really enjoyable to discover the Rutland Arms on Friday (may have contributed to my <100%ness yesterday…) and the vegetarian thali at 5tara last night.
Once again we failed to send anyone to the actual meeting… I think that makes 4 times of the 5 we’ve gone to the AGM DoD over the last 13 years - “oops” (though again it was a case of attend meeting, have evening meal, be possible for train-goers to get home: pick two).
Slow start for me today doing some admin to sort our side music practices for the winter while others lie in before we find a slap up lunch and drive home. -
Mastodonians in Sheffield for the Morris Fed Day of Dance may recognise me by the mallard on my melodeon strap
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How is it only a week until the Morris Federation day of dance/AGM in Sheffield and why am I not more ready?
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Right, in a couple of minutes I go to meet the side at a greasy spoon for breakfast. Then dancing in various villages (delivered by community minibus so no need for me to drive either!) - apologies for the caps but I’m copy/pasting from the WO.
GREAT DENHAM Archers' Rest 1115
BROMHAM Swan 1145 & LUNCH to 1315
LAVENDON Horseshoe 1330
CARLTON Fox 1415
MILTON ERNEST HALL CARE HOME 1500
MILTON ERNEST Queen's Head 1545What better way to spend a bank holiday?
#MorrisDancing #MorrisDance #FolkLife #BankHoliday #Bedfordshire #BedfordUK
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Decent dance out tonight, though I brought two sets of pipes with me and played neither of them! Still, good to mark St George’s Day (a day late admittedly) in place of practice.
First @RedCuthbert pub night of the year, if I’m not mistaken… and we have to wait a whole two days to our next event (same excuse) on Saturday, then the same again next Thursday to celebrate May Day :-) -
“We don’t want Morris to take over our lives. One event a month, two in high season, is plenty” we said.
Somehow we have over twenty events in the next six months, and seem to still be feeling keen and saying “yes” to anything that doesn’t clash!
Maybe we *do* want Morris to take over our lives - actions speak louder than words. -
If anyone wondered, apparently the real point of a mummers play is that when you finish the last spot you’re guaranteed a seat.
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Welcome to Mastodon, @RedCuthbert’s new Wizzzard!
#RedCuthbertMorris #MorrisDancing #FolkLife
